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US 2017/0324195 A1Published application
Systems and methods using electrical receptacles for integrated power control, communication and monitoring
AssigneeBrainwave Research Corporation
InventorsJohn ERIKSEN, Jean-Guy GAGNE, Benoit FORTIN, Rene K. PARDO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical receptacle contains contacts, at least one contact for electrical connection to a hot power line and at least one contact for a neutral power line. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the contact and the hot power line. One or more sensors are provided which detect signals of the hot power line and/or the neutral power line. The processor provides activation or deactivation control to the controlled switch in response to the detected signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.
Claims111
An electrical receptacle comprising:
- a first contact and a second contact configured for electrical connection to a hot power line and a neutral power line, respectively, and each configured for downstream electrical connection to a respective downstream power line;
- a controlled state switch connected in series relationship to the hot power line;
- at least one sensor to detect signals indicative of the hot power line;
- at least one sensor to detect signals indicative of the neutral power line;
- and
- a processor configured to control an activation or a deactivation of the controlled state switch in response to the signals detected by at least one of the sensors or in response to receiving a communication.
3 more elements
A communication system, comprising:
- a wired network;
- an electrical receptacle configured for electrical connection to at least one power line, the electrical receptacle comprising a communication subsystem configured for wired communications over the wired network to communicate with one or more further electrical receptacles;
- and
- a gateway for controlling access and/or authentication to the wired communications over the wired network.
1 more element
A communication device, comprising:
- a first contact configured for electrical connection to a neutral power line, and a second contact configured for electrical connection to ground;
- a processor;
- and
- a communication subsystem configured for wired communications over the neutral power line to the ground.
1 more element
A communication device, comprising:
- a first contact configured for electrical connection to a first hot power line having a first power line phase, and a second contact configured for electrical connection to a second hot power line having a second power line phase different from the first power line phase;
- and
- a processor configured to bridge wired communications between the first power line phase and the second power line phase.
An electrical receptacle for connection to power lines, comprising:
- a first contact and a second contact configured for electrical connection to a hot power line and a neutral power line, respectively;
- a communication subsystem configured for wired communications with one or more further electrical receptacles;
- a processor having a packaging with pins, and configured to communicate via the wired communications;
- a dry contact switch which is configured to, without a voltage reference source, short two pins of the packaging of the processor, the processor responsive to the short to effect, directly by the processor or indirectly via at least one further processor, deactivation of one or more of the further electrical receptacles, by communication over the wired communications.
1 more element
A manual power override system, comprising:
- a plurality of devices each configured for wired communications and each having a controlled state switch to control hot line power to that individual device, the plurality of devices comprising at least one of or all of:
- an electrical receptacle having a plug outlet,
- an in-line electrical receptacle,
- a load, and/or
- a circuit breaker panel;
- a processor having a packaging with pins;
- a communication subsystem operable by the processor for the wired communications;
- a dry contact switch which is configured to, without a voltage reference source, short two pins of the packaging of the processor, the processor responsive to the short to effect, directly by the processor or indirectly via at least one further processor, deactivation of the controlled state switch of each of the plurality of devices, by communication over the wired communications.
5 more elements
An electrical safety system, comprising:
- an electrical receptacle, comprising:
- a plug outlet comprising first and second contacts configured for electrical connection to a hot power line and a neutral power line, respectively,
- a controlled state switch connected to the first contact in series relationship with the hot power line,
- a processor configured to control an activation or a deactivation of the controlled state switch, the controlled state switch being in a deactivation state as a default when there is a plug in the plug outlet.
1 more element
A circuit breaker panel comprising:
- at least one circuit breaker for connection to at least one hot power line, and each circuit breaker configured for downstream electrical connection to a respective downstream power line;
- a processor for controlling the at least one circuit breaker;
- at least one sensor to detect signals indicative of the at least one hot power line;
- and
- a communication subsystem for wired communication with devices that are downstream to the at least one circuit breaker;
- wherein the processor is configured to, when one of the circuit breakers opens, output information relating to the signals from the at least one sensor.
3 more elements
An appliance or load comprising:
- a circuit board including a processor configured for power control of the appliance or load, and
- the processor further configured for power safety of the appliance or load and/or communication with an electrical receptacle.
A communication device, comprising:
- a neutral contact for connection to a neutral power line;
- a ground contact for connection to ground;
- and
- a communication subsystem for communicating over the neutral power line to the ground.
1 more element
A circuit breaker for connection at least one power line, comprising:
- a breaker for connection to a hot power line of the at least on power line;
- a processor for controlling the breaker;
- and
- a communication subsystem for wired communication over at least one of the power lines.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.